Act II, Scene i:
A court within the Castle of the Earl of Gloster.

[Enter Edmund and Curan, meeting.]

Edm.:

Save thee, Curan.

Cur.:

And you, sir. I have been with your father, and given him

notice that the Duke of Cornwall and Regan his duchess will be

here with him this night.

Edm.:

How comes that?

Cur.:

Nay, I know not.—You have heard of the news abroad; I mean the

whispered ones, for they are yet but ear-kissing arguments?

Edm.:

Not I: pray you, what are they?

Cur.:

Have you heard of no likely wars toward, 'twixt the two dukes

of Cornwall and Albany?

Edm.:

Not a word.

Cur.:

You may do, then, in time. Fare you well, sir.

[Exit.]

Edm.:

The Duke be here to-night? The better! best!

This weaves itself perforce into my business.

My father hath set guard to take my brother;

And I have one thing, of a queasy question,

Which I must act:—briefness and fortune work!—

Brother, a word!—descend:—brother, I say!

[Enter Edgar.]

My father watches:—sir, fly this place;

Intelligence is given where you are hid;

You have now the good advantage of the night.—

Have you not spoken 'gainst the Duke of Cornwall?

He's coming hither; now, i' the night, i' the haste,

And Regan with him: have you nothing said

Upon his party 'gainst the Duke of Albany?

Advise yourself.

Edg.:

I am sure on't, not a word.

Edm.:

I hear my father coming:—pardon me;

In cunning I must draw my sword upon you:—

Draw: seem to defend yourself: now quit you well.—

Yield:—come before my father.—Light, ho, here!

Fly, brother.—Torches, torches!—So farewell.

[Exit Edgar.]

Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion

Of my more fierce endeavour:[Wounds his arm.]

I have seen drunkards

Do more than this in sport.—Father, father!

Stop, stop! No help?

[Enter Gloster, and Servants with torches.]

Glou.:

Now, Edmund, where's the villain?

Edm.:

Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,

Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon

To stand auspicious mistress,—

Glou.:

But where is he?

Edm.:

Look, sir, I bleed.

Glou.:

Where is the villain, Edmund?

Edm.:

Fled this way, sir. When by no means he could,—

Glou.:

Pursue him, ho!—Go after.

[Exeunt Servants.]

—By no means what?

Edm.:

Persuade me to the murder of your lordship;

But that I told him the revenging gods

'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend;

Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond

The child was bound to the father;—sir, in fine,

Seeing how loathly opposite I stood

To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion

With his prepared sword, he charges home

My unprovided body, lanc'd mine arm;

But when he saw my best alarum'd spirits,

Bold in the quarrel's right, rous'd to the encounter,

Or whether gasted by the noise I made,

Full suddenly he fled.

Glou.:

Let him fly far;

Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;

And found—dispatch'd.—The noble duke my master,

My worthy arch and patron, comes to-night:

By his authority I will proclaim it,

That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks,

Bringing the murderous coward to the stake;

He that conceals him, death.

Edm.:

When I dissuaded him from his intent,

And found him pight to do it, with curst speech

I threaten'd to discover him: he replied,

'Thou unpossessing bastard! dost thou think,

If I would stand against thee, would the reposal

Of any trust, virtue, or worth in thee

Make thy words faith'd? No: what I should deny

As this I would; ay, though thou didst produce

My very character, I'd turn it all

To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice:

And thou must make a dullard of the world,

If they not thought the profits of my death

Were very pregnant and potential spurs

To make thee seek it.

Glou.:

Strong and fast'ned villain!

Would he deny his letter?—I never got him.

[Trumpets within.]

Hark, the duke's trumpets! I know not why he comes.—

All ports I'll bar; the villain shall not scape;

The duke must grant me that: besides, his picture

I will send far and near, that all the kingdom

May have due note of him; and of my land,

Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means

To make thee capable.

[Enter Cornwall, Regan, and Attendants.]

Corn.:

How now, my noble friend! since I came hither,—

Which I can call but now,—I have heard strange news.

Reg.:

If it be true, all vengeance comes too short

Which can pursue the offender. How dost, my lord?

Glou.:

O madam, my old heart is crack'd,—it's crack'd!

Reg.:

What, did my father's godson seek your life?

He whom my father nam'd? your Edgar?

Glou.:

O lady, lady, shame would have it hid!

Reg.:

Was he not companion with the riotous knights

That tend upon my father?

Glou.:

I know not, madam:—

It is too bad, too bad.

Edm.:

Yes, madam, he was of that consort.

Reg.:

No marvel then though he were ill affected:

'Tis they have put him on the old man's death,

To have the expense and waste of his revenues.

I have this present evening from my sister

Been well inform'd of them; and with such cautions

That if they come to sojourn at my house,

I'll not be there.

Corn.:

Nor I, assure thee, Regan.—

Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father

A childlike office.

Edm.:

'Twas my duty, sir.

Glou.:

He did bewray his practice; and receiv'd

This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.

Corn.:

Is he pursu'd?

Glou.:

Ay, my good lord.

Corn.:

If he be taken, he shall never more

Be fear'd of doing harm: make your own purpose,

How in my strength you please.—For you, Edmund,

Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant

So much commend itself, you shall be ours:

Natures of such deep trust we shall much need;

You we first seize on.

Edm.:

I shall serve you, sir,

Truly, however else.

Glou.:

For him I thank your grace.

Corn.:

You know not why we came to visit you,—

Reg.:

Thus out of season, threading dark-ey'd night:

Occasions, noble Gloster, of some poise,

Wherein we must have use of your advice:—

Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,

Of differences, which I best thought it fit

To answer from our home; the several messengers

From hence attend despatch. Our good old friend,

Lay comforts to your bosom; and bestow

Your needful counsel to our business,

Which craves the instant use.

Glou.:

I serve you, madam:

Your graces are right welcome.

[Exeunt.]